NightVersion pay tribute to the best music of the past four decades from the music genre that has endured throughout – NEW WAVE! NightVersion have dispensed with the teased wigs and crazy costumes to bring focus to the more integral part of New Wave – the music! Pushing far further into the sound than regular, predictable tribute-band fare, NightVersion tracks the genre from its beginnings in the late 70’s, through the New Romantics of the 80’s, the DarkWave of the 90’s and the synth-rock of today. NightVersion grew from the embers of the highly successful 80’s tribute show, Stand and Deliver. Formed by singer Jay Bowen, also a professional actor; keyboardist Matty Ray, formerly of Mandy Kane and Beki and the Bullets; and popular, up-and-coming guitarist Rip Wild. Together they envisioned a band that would omit the tired candy floss of cover band entertainment, that could perform music of integrity for which they knew there existed a large audience - of those that craved Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins, New Order, Placebo, Dandy Warhols, The Smiths, Duran Duran and so on. They were fortunate to find Nick Rave, a versatile multi-instrumentalist from London, who following a stint with Babyshambles was travelling though Melbourne with a punk outfit, Panda Milkshake, which he soon left, taking up bass. They were later joined by Aaron Muscara, an old friend, and highly experienced drummer of the band Xcite who slotted into the line up effortlessly.
